Recross-examination of Francesca Harman

📄 Recross-examination of Francesca Harman — Tuesday, July 11, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\JUL\11\RECROSS-EXAMINATION-OF-FRANCES.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 112 of 167

◀ Redirect examination of Francesca Harman Witness scheduling ▶

Witness: Francesca Harman
Examiner: Christopher Darden
Called by: Defense • Date: Tuesday, July 11, 1995 • Utterances: 15

Darden briefly challenged the reliability of Harman's timeline testimony by questioning the accuracy of the clocks she used as reference points — a kitchen clock, a desk clock, and her car's digital clock. Harman partially conceded but noted she syncs her car clock to KFWB radio, expressing confidence in its accuracy. The exchange ended with a rare light moment when Darden quipped about his own radio station preference.

# 1 THE COURT:

Mr. Darden.

RECROSS-EXAMINATION BY MR. DARDEN

# 2 MR. DARDEN:

Miss Harman, the times that you've given us today, those--the accuracy of those times depend on the accuracy of someone else's kitchen clock; is that correct?

# 3 MS. HARMAN:

And--

# 4 MR. SHAPIRO:

Objection.

# 5 THE COURT:

Overruled.

# 6 MS. HARMAN:

And desk clock. Yes, it would.

# 7 MR. DARDEN:

Okay. And as well as the accuracy of the digital clock in your vehicle; is that correct?

# 8 MS. HARMAN:

Yes, it would.

# 9 MR. DARDEN:

And so if those clocks are one or two or more or less minutes off, then your time would be off, wouldn't it?

# 10 MS. HARMAN:

It would, except I usually set the clock to KFWB. So I feel confident that the clock in my car was accurate.

KEY QUOTE

# 11 MR. DARDEN:

I set mine to 92.3, The Beat, your Honor. Thank you. That's all.

KEY QUOTE

# 12 THE COURT:

What station were you listening to?

# 13 MS. HARMAN:

97.1, KLSX.

# 14 THE COURT:

Classic rock. Okay. Thank you very much, Miss Harman. All right. We will take our recess at this time. Ladies and gentlemen, please remember all my admonitions to you. We'll in recess for 15 minutes.

KEY QUOTE

# 15 (Recess.)

Temperature

light

Key Quotes (3)

Francesca Harman

It would, except I usually set the clock to KFWB. So I feel confident that the clock in my car was accurate.

Partially blunts Darden's attack on her timeline by asserting her car clock was radio-synced and therefore reliable.

Christopher Darden

I set mine to 92.3, The Beat, your Honor. Thank you. That's all.

A rare moment of courtroom levity from Darden, defusing tension and signaling he got what he needed from the exchange.

Lance A. Ito

Classic rock. Okay. Thank you very much, Miss Harman.

Ito-esque judicial banter; the judge engaging with the radio station tangent before dismissing the witness.

Notable Exchanges (2)

Christopher Darden•Francesca Harman

Darden attacked the reliability of Harman's timeline by pointing out it depended on the accuracy of multiple clocks she did not personally set or control. Harman conceded the general point but defended her car clock as radio-synced.

strategic

Christopher Darden•Lance A. Ito•Francesca Harman

After Darden's radio station quip, Ito asked what station Harman listened to, she answered '97.1, KLSX,' and Ito identified it as classic rock before closing the examination.

light

Light Moments (2)

Christopher Darden

Darden volunteers that he sets his own clock to '92.3, The Beat' before thanking the witness and sitting down.

Lance A. Ito

Judge Ito identifies KLSX as 'Classic rock' and signs off on the witness with casual amusement.

Credibility Attacks (1)

⚔ Francesca Harman

reliability of foundation

Darden challenged the accuracy of Harman's time estimates by establishing they depended on the accuracy of a kitchen clock, a desk clock, and a car's digital clock — none of which she could independently verify.

Objections

1 objections (0 sustained, 1 overruled)

Proceeding 6762 • 15 utterances • Defense witness

Criminal Trial

Department 103